In 2011, Marvel Comics and writer Brian Michael Bendis introduced a Black, Brooklyn teen as the new Spider-Man. Specifically, Miles Morales, of African-American and Latino extraction, was the new Ultimate Spider-Man, the friendly neighborhood wall-crawler and web-slinger of Marvel’s Ultimate line of comics (or universe).

Miles received his own comic books series, Ultimate Spider-Man (or Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man). Now, as part of the “Ultimate Marvel NOW” publishing initiative, Miles gets a new series, Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man, courtesy of writer Brian Michael Bendis, artist David Marquez, colorist Justin Ponsor, and letterer Cory Petit.

Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man #1 opens in a secret S.H.I.E.L.D. “Containment Facility,” from which Norman Osborn is being removed for transferal to a federal prison. In Brooklyn, two armored thieves commit a bold robbery. Meanwhile, Miles Morales contemplates revealing his secret to girlfriend Katie Bishop, but the surprise in store for Katie is nothing compared to the surprise in store for Miles.

I have stated in previous reviews of Ultimate Spider-Man comic books that I thought that Brian Michael Bendis merged the best of classic Steve Ditko-Stan Lee Spider-Man and early Milestone Media Static comic books in his stories of Miles Morales as Spider-Man. Miles’ stories are as much misadventure as they are adventure, because Bendis makes the foibles and trials and tribulations of teen boyhood every bit as engaging as the never-ending battle of a superhero. Most of the time, I can’t wait for the story to switch from Spider-Man back to Miles Morales’ civilian life. Well, that is because Miles is a quite interesting young fellow.

In the first Miles Morales series, Bendis was blessed with a fantastic storytelling collaborator, artist Sara Pichelli. Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man finds Bendis blessed again with another talented collaborator. David Marquez is rapidly coming into his own in terms of storytelling. I like Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man #1; it’s the kind of first issue that has me ready for more.